In a game where the margins were razor-thin, it wasn’t the runs or wickets that did the talking—it was the number of boundaries. Welcome to the IPL’s rarest ending.
Some IPL nights offer big sixes and shattered records, while others pour chaos into a chilled glass. Take, for instance, the 2014 clash in Abu Dhabi between the Rajasthan Royals and the Kolkata Knight Riders—an evening where drama unfolded not once but twice.
The Rajasthan Royals set a competitive, if understated, target of 152 for 5. Ajinkya Rahane’s composed 72 stood tall, akin to a solitary tree braving a desert storm.
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However, KKR’s chase unfolded its own narrative, constructed on steady blocks rather than wild swings. Gambhir’s return to form (a gritty 45 off 44) wove a sense of calm into Kolkata’s innings. Yet, by the end, the calm swiftly transformed into anything but serene.
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With 16 runs needed off 12 balls and six wickets in hand, KKR held the keys to the vault. All they had to do was unlock it. But then, James Faulkner—a player benched after disappointing performances earlier—decided it was time for a birthday surprise. And not the kind KKR wanted.
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Faulkner’s slower balls spelt trouble. Suryakumar Yadav, full of intent, aimed to go big, only to find himself in the hands of Steve Smith. Uthappa and Vinay Kumar followed—bowled through the gate like ordinary tail-enders.
Six balls. Three wickets. Panic set in. Shakib Al Hasan still had a chance, though. He managed to tie the match, pushing it into Super Over territory. But the tide had turned.
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KKR batted first in the Super Over, managing 11 runs. Sunil Narine, their trusted mystery man, was tasked with defending it. It came down to the very last ball—three needed, two required to tie.
Steven Smith didn’t swing for the heavens. He didn’t need to. Just a clever nudge into the gap at extra cover and two scampered runs later, the match was tied again. But here’s the kicker—Rajasthan Royals had hit 18 boundaries compared to KKR’s 11. By the slimest, strangest rule in the IPL’s vast rulebook, that was enough.
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RR didn’t just walk away with two points—they strolled off having won the only match in IPL history decided by boundary count after a tied Super Over.
While Rahane laid the groundwork and Faulkner lit the fireworks, it was Smith’s presence of mind that sealed the deal. No panic, no flash—just brilliant cricket. A match that deserved a winner didn’t find one through sheer numbers but through cricketing wit.
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Some wins earn you two points. Others—like this one—grant you immortal status. This wasn’t just an IPL match; it was a statistical unicorn, a tactical masterclass, and a reminder that every ball and every boundary truly counts.
Who knew that in a sport obsessed with sixes, the humble four would have the final say?
